Report: Seahawks Expected to Sign Veteran QB Geno Smith

Sticking to their “always compete” mantra, the Seahawks plan to add another veteran quarterback to the mix.

According to Jordan Raanan of ESPN, the Seahawks plan to sign former West Virginia standout Geno Smith, who spent the 2018 season as a backup with the Chargers. The team has yet to confirm.

An additional report from NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport indicated Smith would be visiting Seattle on Wednesday and has yet to sign a contract.

Headlining a weak quarterback class in the 2013 NFL Draft, Smith fell to the early second round before being selected by the Jets with the 39th overall pick. He immediately became a starter, but endured a disastrous rookie season, throwing 12 touchdowns and 21 interceptions in 16 games.

Despite being benched at one point in favor of Michael Vick, Smith showed some progress during his second season, improving his completion percentage to nearly 60 percent and cutting his interception total nearly in half.

But after being involved in an altercation with teammate I.K. Enemkpali that led to him suffering a fractured jaw, Smith never regained his starting job during his final two seasons in New York. Ryan Fitzpatrick nearly led the team to the playoffs with a 10-win 2015 season and when he was benched the following season, Smith unfortunately tore his ACL in his lone start and missed the rest of the year.

Coming off the knee injury, the Jets decided to move on from Smith, allowing him to leave as a free agent. Without any starting opportunities available, he has spent the past two seasons as a backup with the Giants and Chargers, throwing for 212 yards and a touchdown in six games.

Once Smith officially signs with the Seahawks, he’ll be set to compete against former Broncos first round pick Paxton Lynch for the right to backup Russell Wilson. Undrafted rookie free agent Taryn Christion out of South Dakota State could also remain on the roster, though Seattle typically has only carried three quarterbacks.